3: Fantasia

Dis­ney Classic Era

Disney released a second animated feature in the winter of 1940, the celebrated concert-film Fantasia. A pet project of Walt Disney, the film is nothing less than a full symphony concert, illustrated by Disney animation, with Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. The eight sequences are: “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” (J. S. Bach), “The Nutcracker Suite” (Tchaikovsky), “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (Dukas), “The Rite of Spring” (Stravinsky), “The Sixth Symphony (The Pastoral)” (Beethoven), “Dance of the Hours” (Ponchielli) and “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria” (Mussorgsky/Schubert).

Fantasia Sources

The first feature to be released with a stereophonic soundtrack. This show had a limited-release premier run in 7 channel “Fantasound”. In the original roadshow release, the film had an intermission and extra intro snippits.

The name of the Wizard character in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sequence “Yen Sid” is “Disney” in reverse.

In 1990, Fantasia was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.

The name of the character “Yen Sid” is “Disney” in reverse.

Working title: “The Concert Feature.”

In 1990, Fantasia was one of 25 films added by the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board to the National Film Registry.